System for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean. The apparatus comprises a thermal energy harnessing assembly and a drilling assembly mounted thereto. The thermal energy harnessing assembly includes in-feed tube and out-feed tubes. The drilling assembly has openings in fluid communication with the in-feed tube and a thermal energy capturing conduit in fluid communication with the out-feed tube. When the drilling assembly engages a bottom surface of the ocean and fluid is introduced into the in-feed tube, fluid flows towards the drilling assembly and out of the openings at such a pressure as to drill into the bottom surface of the ocean allowing thermal energy to escape therefrom and to flow into the out-feed tube via the thermal energy capturing conduit.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems and methods for exploitingthermal energy. More particularly, but not exclusively, the presentinvention relates to systems for exploiting the thermal energy at thebottom of the ocean.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Energy alternatives are pressing worldwide concerns due to climatechange caused by greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.

An alternative of interest is harnessing the hydrothermal energy at thebottom of the ocean by using heat sources such as volcanoes or rifts.Still more interesting is drilling into the earth at the bottom of theocean in order to access the vast amounts of thermal energy that can beused to produce electricity among other uses.

Conventional techniques of drilling into the earth crust at the bottomof the ocean cannot provide for creating deep tunnels therein that cantruly take advantage of the extremely high temperatures available and assuch meet global energy demands.

There thus remains a need to provide improved methods and devices forexploiting the thermal energy available at the bottom of the ocean.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for theexploitation of thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of exploitingthermal energy at the bottom of the ocean.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is providedan apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of theocean, the apparatus comprising:

a thermal energy harnessing assembly comprising an in-feed tube anout-feed tube; and

-   -   a drilling assembly mounted to the thermal energy harnessing        assembly, the drilling assembly comprising openings in fluid        communication with the in-feed tube and a thermal energy        capturing conduit in fluid communication with the out-feed tube,    -   wherein when the drilling assembly engages a bottom surface of        the ocean and fluid is introduced into the in-feed tube, the        fluid is caused to flow towards the drilling assembly and out of        the openings at such a pressure as to drill into the bottom        surface of the ocean allowing thermal energy to escape therefrom        so as to flow into the out-feed tube via the thermal energy        capturing conduit.    -   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,        there is provided a drilling assembly for drilling into a        surface comprising:    -   a drilling device comprising an outer surface with openings        leading to longitudinal bores for receiving high pressure fluid        and spraying the high pressure fluid out of the openings so as        to drill into the surface; and    -   an actuator mounted to the drilling device for spinning the        drilling device about a vertical axis when drilling into the        surface.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of theocean, the method comprising;

drilling with high-pressure water a tunnel within a bottom surface ofthe ocean;

capturing thermal energy being released from the drilled tunnel; and

diverting this high thermal energy to the surface of the ocean forexploitation thereof.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom ofthe ocean, the apparatus comprising:

an in-feed tube having a top end and bottom end thereof for providingwater to flow down from the in-feed top end to the in-feed bottom end;and

an out-feed tube having a top end and a bottom end thereof for providingthermal energy to flow up from the out-feed bottom end to the out-feedtop end; and

a heat conducting tube for being placed about a heat source at thebottom of the ocean, the heat conducting tube being in fluidcommunication with the in-feed tube and the out-feed tube, and having aserpentine configuration to slow down the flow of water therein so as toallow for the water to be sufficiently heated by the heat source therebyproviding the thermal energy produced to rise into the out-feed tube.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, thereis provided an apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottomof the ocean, the apparatus comprising:

an in-feed tube having a top end and bottom end thereof for providingwater to flow down from the in-feed top end to the in-feed bottom end;and

an out-feed tube having a top end and a bottom end thereof for providingthermal energy to flow up from the out-feed bottom end to the out-feedtop end;

a heat conducting tube for being placed about a heat source at thebottom of the ocean, the heat conducting tube being in fluidcommunication with the in-feed tube and the out-feed tube; and

a layer of insulation for being placed above the heat conducting tubethereby maintaining heat between the heat source and the layer ofinsulation,

wherein water from the in-feed tube is heated in the heat conductingtube to produce thermal energy which flows into the out-feed tube.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a tunnel reinforcement assembly for reinforcing a drilledtunnel within the bottom surface of the ocean; the tunnel reinforcementassembly comprising:

an outer sheet comprising an outer mid-section and a pair of outer armsextending therefrom defining respective free ends; and

an inner sheet comprising an inner mid-section and a pair of inner armsextending therefrom defining respective free ends,

wherein when the outer and inner sheets are assembled, the inner pair ofarms are inserted between the outer pair of arms and lie flush thereagainst, the free ends of the inner pair of arms engage the outermid-section therebetween, the free ends of the outer pair of arms engagesaid inner mid-section therebetween.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention willbecome more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictivedescription of non-limiting illustrative embodiments thereof, given byway of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the appended drawings, where like reference numerals denote likeelements throughout and in where:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for exploiting thethermal energy at the bottom of the ocean in accordance with anon-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for exploiting thethermal energy at the bottom of the ocean in accordance with anothernon-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a portion of an apparatus forexploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean in accordancewith a further non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a thermal energy harnessing tubeassembly in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 is schematic illustration of a thermal energy harnessing tubeassembly in accordance with another non-restrictive illustrativeembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for exploiting thethermal energy at the bottom of the ocean in accordance with yet anothernon-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for exploiting thethermal energy at the bottom of the ocean in accordance with yet afurther non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for exploiting thethermal energy at the bottom of the ocean in accordance with stillanother non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of the lower portion of an apparatusfor exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean inaccordance with still a further non-restrictive illustrative embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the apparatus ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is underside view of the apparatus of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is another schematic illustration of the lower portion of theapparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the oceanof FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a tunnel reinforcement sheet assembly inaccordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the outer sheet of the tunnelreinforcement sheet assembly of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the inner sheet of the tunnelreinforcement sheet assembly of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS General Principle

Generally stated, the present invention provides systems for producingelectrical energy, hydrogen by harnessing the thermal energy at thebottom of the ocean. The foregoing is accomplished while avoidingemitting pollutants as well as dispensing any additional energy sinceall energy produced is re-used within the system as will be furtherexplained herein. Depending on regional temperatures, vapor or mixturesof vapor and hot water for producing electricity, oxygen and hydrogenare available at the bottom of the ocean in large quantities. Thereforethe systems provided herein harness and exploit this thermal energy.

In an embodiment, there is provided a thermally insulated elongated tubethat is to be lowered into the ocean by placing its bottom end at anadvantageous distance from a heat source such as a volcano or a rift forexample. Like volcanoes, rifts are interesting heat sources due to theirdepths and abundance of heat. The aforementioned advantageous distancerefers to a distance at which vapour having the highest possibletemperature can be captured. The top end of the tube is positioned nearthe water surface. Therefore, high temperature water or vapour entersthe bottom end of the tube instead of mixing with the rest of the oceanwater and as such being cooled down. Once in the tube, the water or thevapour has a density which is lesser than that of the ocean watersurrounding the tube thus causing the water or vapour inside the tube tonaturally rise within the vertical pathway. The closer the vapour orwater reaches the ocean surface the more the density and the pressurewithin the tube will diminish thereby accelerating this rising movement.This high pressure vapour or water is then used in order to actuate aturbine associated to a generator thereby producing electricity.

Coolant Gases

By using ocean thermal energy it is possible, even in the case wherewater rising within the tube is not in a state of ebullition, to bringcoolant gases or any other liquid having desired characteristics toebullition if its boiling point is slightly above zero degrees Celsius.For example, ammonium is a desirable coolant gas since it is a naturalgas and therefore less harmful to the environment. Ammonium is useful atits gaseous state for actuating a turbine associated with a generatorand thereby producing electricity. Thereafter, by using a heat exchangerin areas of the ocean where the water is cold, the coolant gas returnsto a liquid state. In regions surrounding Iceland for example, there aremany variations in ocean temperatures that allow for production ofenergy at a greater scope.

Clean Water Sources

Given that hot water is situated right above volcanoes or rifts itcontains many impurities which produce deposits within any siphoningtube thus clogging this tube or generally decreasing energy productionand the overall efficiency of any energy exploitation system. To addressthis problem, it is advantageous to use clean water that is near theheat sources. In order to accomplish this, the thermal energy harnessingtube includes an auxiliary heat conducting tube at its bottom end thatis strategically placed near the hot water source. The auxiliary heatconducting tube includes a filter therein thereby allowing the water tobe filtered while it is heated.

Heat Exchanger in a Closed Circuit

A closed circuit system refers to a thermal energy harnessing tubeassembly having a in-feed tube for bringing water or any other liquiddown to the bottom of the ocean, a heat conducting tube portion forheating up this water or liquid and an out-feed tube portion forreturning the heated water, liquid or gas to the surface of the oceanfor exploitation of the harnessed thermal energy.

The heat exchanger in a closed circuit provides for a more efficientsystem since the same water free of impurities is being used. Thisallows to obtain a maximum heat exchange and to minimize the weight ofthe vapour rising within the vertical tube towards the ocean surfacesince it contains barely any impurities.

The closed circuit system includes concentric tubes or a pair of side byside in feed and out-feed vertical tubes. Generally, water flows towardsthe heat source via an in-feed tube and then through at least one heatconducting tube positioned above a heat source such as a volcano orrift. Once heated, the water flows upward into a thermally insulatedout-feed tube, towards the ocean surface, in the form of rising hotwater or vapour or mixtures thereof. When the water is tuned intovapour, the vapour will naturally rise into the out-feed tube towardsthe ocean surface. In one embodiment, this vapour, when placed underpressure, is used to actuate a turbine-generator assembly for theproduction of electricity or for the electrolysis of water. When thewater in the out-feed tube rising towards the ocean surface is notvaporized but remains in a hot liquid state, its thermal energy isuseful in boiling a coolant liquid thereby providing a coolant gas, asexplained above.

Exploitation of Thermal Energy Provided by Rifts

Rifts are planes within the earth's crust usually associated with largevolcanoes such as Kilimanjaro for example. Yet there are rifts withinthe bottom of the ocean whose thermal energy can be harnessed and used.

Generally, this system includes placing an insulating materialhorizontally above the rift in order to keep the heat between the riftand the insulation and then positioning a heat conducting tubetherebetween. The heat conducting tube includes an opening for siphoningwater therein. In a closed circuit system water is fed to the heatconducting tube. Of course, the water that is fed into the heatconducting tube can be brought from any area of the ocean. For example,clean water, such as filtered ocean water that is not near the heatsource can be used. Water outside the ocean can all be used. In anembodiment, the out-feed tube in which the water or vapour rises isthermally insulated in order to maintain the rising water of vapour at ahigh temperature.

Assemblies for the Exploitation of Thermal Energy

FIG. 1 shows an assembly 10 for the exploitation of thermal energy atthe bottom of the ocean.

The assembly 10 includes an in-feed tube 12 having an open bottom end14, positioned above a heat source H at the bottom B of the ocean O, forsiphoning hot water/vapor therein. The top end 16 of the vertical infeed tube 12 is in fluid communication with a purifying system 18 via aconduit 20. The purifying system 18 comprises a centrifuge foreliminating particles from the hot water/vapor before the hotwater/vapor flows into the turbine 22 via conduit 24. The hotwater/vapor actuates turbine 22 which is associated with a generator 26,via conduit 28, for the production of electricity

Hot water/vapor from turbine 22 flows into a tube 30 positioned within aheat exchanger 32. The heat exchanger 32 includes another tube 34 with acoolant gas which runs generally parallel to tube 30. In this way, thehot water or vapour within tube 30 is cooled down and thereby condensed(when in the form of vapour) to flow within a reservoir 36 that containssubstantially pure water. Correspondingly, the coolant gas within tube34 is heated and flows into turbine 38 for actuation thereof. Turbine 38is associated with generator 40, via conduit 42, for the production ofelectricity. The heated coolant gas flows from turbine 38 into tube 44which is connected to a heat exchanger 46. The heat exchanger 46includes another tube 48 through which flows cold water. Therefore, theheated gas within tube 44 is cooled down and the cold water within tube48 is heated. Coolant gas is pumped towards turbine 38 and out ofturbine 38 via a pump 50.

Turning to FIG. 2, there is shown an assembly 11 for the exploitation ofthermal energy at the bottom of the ocean that is similarly constructedto assembly 10 as such, only the difference between assemblies 11 and 10will be discussed herein for concision purposes only.

Assembly 11 comprises a vertical tube 12 including at its bottom end 15an auxiliary heat conducting tube 52 having a serpentine (such as ahelicoidal or spiral) configuration and including an open fee end 54 forreceiving surrounding water therein. The water flows into the tube 52via opening 54 and is heated within the heat conducting 52 by the heatsource H (such as a rift or volcano).

FIG. 3 shows the double heat exchanging portion 51 of an assembly 13 forthe exploitation of thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean.

Assembly 13 includes a bottom heat exchanger 53A, including two parallelheat exchanging conduits 55 l and 55 ll which have helicoidal portionwithin the heat exchanger 53A for slowing down the flow of fluid duringheat exchange. The fluid from conduit 55 ll flows to an electricityproducing assembly E including a pump P a turbine T and a generator G.The electricity producing assembly E is in Ifuid communication with heatexchanger 57 including a pair of heat exchanging conduits 59 l and 59 llsimilarly constructed to conduits 55 l and 55 ll.

With reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, closed circuit systems will bedescribed to further exemplify the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a vertical co-centric tube assembly 60 having an externalin-feed 62 and an internal out-feed tube 64. The external tube 62 bringswater toward a loop 66 that is positioned above heat source H once thewater is heated it rises within tube 64.

FIG. 5 shows a vertical tube assembly 70 having an in-feed tube 72 forbringing water toward a loop 74 positioned above a heat source to beheated and then to rise into an out-feed tube 76.

FIG. 6 shows a closed circuit system 80 comprising a thermal energy tubeharnessing assembly 81 with an in-feed tube 82 that brings water into aheat conducting helicoidal conduit 84 positioned above a heat source forheating thereof. Once the water is vaporized, it flows into an out-feedtube 86 that provides for the vapour therein to flow into an actuatedturbine 88 associated with generator 90 for the production ofelectricity.

FIG. 7 shows an assembly 100 for the exploitation of thermal energy.Assembly 100 is a closed circuit system having a tube assembly 101including tubes 102, 104 and 108.

Water flows within an in-feed tube 102 downwardly towards a heat sourceH. The water flows into a vertical heat conducting tube 104 positionedabout the heat source H. The heat conducting tube 104 is positionedbeneath layer of insulating material 106 thereby maintaining the heatbetween the heat source H and the material 106. The water within theheat conducting tube 104 is heater into either hot water or vapour; thehot water or vapour flows into an out-feed tube 108 which leads to ahelicoidal or spiral tube 110 positioned within a heat exchanger 112.Also positioned within the heat exchanger 112 is another helicoidally orspiral tube 114 that runs generally parallel to tube 110. The helicoidaltube 114 includes a coolant gas which is heated by the hot water orvapour in tube 110. Correspondingly, the coolant gas cools down thevapour or hot water in tube 110 and therefore returns into tube 102 ascold water. Coolant gas is pumped into the tube 114 via pump 116. Thecoolant gas that has been heated within the heat exchanger 112 flowsinto turbine 118 which is associated to generator 120 for the productionof electricity. The heated gas flows out of the turbine 118 and into ahelicoidal tube 122 positioned within a heat exchanger 124. Coolant gasflows into tube 122 via the action pump 116. The heat exchanger 124 alsoincludes another tube 126 which is also has a helicoidal configurationthat receives cold water. The hot gas in tube 122 heats up the coldwater within tube 126 and the cold water within tube 126 cools down thegas in tube 122 which returns as a coolant gas into tube 114.

Drilling into the Bottom of the Ocean

Often, temperatures at the bottom of the ocean are too high for drillingholes within the earth crust via conventional means. In an embodiment,the present method provides for initially drilling a first depth levelwithin the earth crust via conventional techniques, and then continuingdrilling as will be explained herein. In an embodiment, the presentmethod uses high liquid pressure such as water pressure to continuedrilling into the earth at the bottom of the ocean. The water used canbe clean filtered water, water external to the ocean or unfiltered oceanwater and mixtures thereof.

In an embodiment, high water pressure is provided via water jets. In anembodiment, the water jets are associated to an in-feed tube which feedswater toward these high powered water jets. Hot water or vapour ormixtures thereof that are exposed via drilling are recuperated by anout-feed tube. Both of the foregoing tubes may comprise heat conductingportions along their lengths. As such, the present method provides fordrilling into the earth crust for many kilometres. It should be notedthat abrasive material can be mixed with the water in the in-feed tubeso that the water sprayed out of the water jets is more effective duringdrilling.

Water spraying out of the jets is heated and when drilling deep into theearth, temperatures greatly rise thus vaporizing the water being sprayedout. This vapour rises within the out-feed or exhaust tube. In the casewhere water is not heated enough in order vaporize and the densitythereof is not low enough so that it rises within an exhaust or out-feedtube by itself, mechanical means such a pump or other suction canrecuperate this water.

Water or vapour rising into an out-feed tube towards the surface of theocean usually includes particles that are caused by drilling whichbreaks the rock. As such, this water or vapour is diverted into anotherreservoir which slows down its flow in order to allow the variousdebris, particles and minerals to be deposited. This reservoir canadvantageously include a centrifuge.

It is of interest to note that in areas of the ocean where tectonicplates separate, we find mountains of accumulated volcanic deposits atthe centre of which lava infiltrates to fill the void left by thedrifting apart tectonic plates. The foregoing provides for a zone in thecentre of these mountains where the temperature is much higher. Drillinginto these zones provides for harnessing high thermal energy.

During drilling into the earth crust a tunnel is provided and henceocean water infiltrates therein.

Of course the deeper we drill into the earth, the more thermal energycan be obtained.

Drilling Assemblies

FIG. 8 shows a tube assembly 200 including a drilling assembly 202 at isbottom end 204. The tube assembly 200 includes side by side in-feed andout-feed tubes, 206 and 208 respectively. The drill assembly 202includes a turbine 210 and a drilling device 212. Water flows downwardinto the in-feed tube 206 thereby actuating the turbine 210 which causesthe drilling device 212 to spin. The drilling device 212 includesapertures (not shown) for shooting high pressure water therethroughwhich cuts into the rock R providing for the tube assembly 200 to movedeeper into the earth at the bottom B of the ocean O.

In this way, the drilling assembly 202 provides for creating a tunnel214 within the bottom ocean surface B. The tube assembly 200 includesinsulators 216 about the vertical tubes 206 and 208 for trapping heatbetween the area A defined by the tunnel 214, the bottom surface 218 ofthe tunnel 214 and the insulators 216. Hence area A heats the waterwithin the bottom portion P of the tube assembly 200 providing for theheated water to naturally rise into out-feed tube 208 towards the oceansurface S. The top end 220 of the tube assembly 200 is connected to aplatform base 222 which can comprise systems for pumping water into thein-feed tube 206 thereby providing greater pressure force on turbine 210and hence drilling device 212. The platform 222 can also include avariety of systems for using the vapour within the out-feed tube 208 forthe production of electricity or for other uses known in the art ofthermal energy exploitation. The top portion 224 of the tube assembly200 can also be covered with thermal insulators 226.

Turning now to FIGS. 9 to 12, a drilling assembly 300 in accordance witha non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the present invention willnow be described.

With particular reference to FIGS. 9 and 13, the drilling assembly 300mounted to a vertical tube assembly 302. The tube assembly 302 is aco-centric double tube system including an external tube 304 which actsas in-feed tube for bringing water down towards the drilling assembly300 and an internal out-feed tube 306 for bringing hot water, vapour ormixtures thereof upwards towards the ocean surface. The tube assembly302 also includes an auxiliary tube assembly 308. Assembly 308 includesan auxiliary in-feed tube 310 and an auxiliary out-feed tube 312. Theauxiliary in-feed tube 310 brings water towards an actuation assembly314 and the out-feed tube 312 retrieves water from this actuationassembly 314 bringing the water back towards the ocean surface.

With reference to FIG. 9, the actuation assembly 314 acts on a drillingdevice 316 for causing it to spin about a vertical axis. The actuationassembly 314 includes a housing 318 having a turbine 320 in fluidcommunication with the auxiliary in-feed and out-feed tubes, 310 and 312respectively. Water actuates the turbine 320 which acts on a rod 322mounted thereto and carrying a gear 324 at it free end 326. The gear 324acts on a circular pinion or toothed rack 328 mounted on the top end 330of the drilling device 316. The drilling device 316 is movably mountedto the housing 318 (via a bearing assembly for example) and therebycaused to spin when the gear 324 acts on the pinion 328.

With reference to FIGS. 9 to 12, the drilling device 316 has a taperedouter surface 332 ending at bottom end 334 which has an opening 336 thatleads to a tunnel 338 which is contiguous with the out-feed tube 306. Aswill be described herein the tunnel acts as a thermal energy capturingconduit. The drilling device 302 includes a plurality of aligned sets ofholes 340 formed within longitudinal grooves 342 defining upwardlycurved sidewalls 344 at each side of the aligned holes 340. Each of theholes 340 leads to respective longitudinal bores 346. Water coming downfrom the in-feed tube 306 descends with great pressure and shoots out ofholes 340 in a generally straight line. Therefore, the aligned holes 340and associated bores 346 are water jets which provide for to cuttingthrough the rock as the drilling device 302 is spun by the actuationassembly 314.

During the drilling procedure, hot water, vapour or mixtures thereofnaturally rises up into tunnel 338 which is in fluid communication withthe out-feed tube 306 providing for thermal energy to be harnessed atthe surface of the ocean. The drilling assembly 300 can be used to drillabout 1 kilometre deep into the earth crust at the bottom of the ocean,thereby allowing harnessing of high thermal energy for exploitationthereof.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 11, the drilling device 316 also includesan auxiliary diagonally positioned bore 348 leading to an opening 350 influid communication with tunnel 338. The bore 350 is receives highpressure water from the in-feed tube 304 spraying water into the tunnel308 via opening 350 thereby clearing the tunnel 338 of any debris orparticles from the thermal energy pathway.

Turning now to FIGS. 11 and 12, the drilling device 316 includes a shortconduit 352 positioned near the top end 330 thereof for and including anopening 354 angularly directed thereby receiving high pressure waterfrom the in-feed tube 304 and providing for this water to flow along thetapered outer surface 332 cleaning any rock or particles that may formon the surface 332 during drilling.

It should be noted that the pressure within the water jets (the boresand their associated opening and holes) is much greater than theexternal pressure surrounding the drilling assembly 302 hence providingfor the water shooting out of these water jets to have a high impactwith the earth crust that is being drilled. Furthermore, the pressurewithin the tunnel 338 is much less than the external pressure therebyproviding for hot water, vapor or mixtures thereof to naturally risetherein and into the out-feed tube 306.

Reinforcement Sheets for the Drilled Tunnel

In order to provide a clear pathway in a drilled tunnel at the bottom ofthe ocean free of potential debris caused from particles, rocks or evenlarger pieces breaking off the walls of the tunnel, these walls arecovered by reinforcement sheets to provide a tunnel having a smoothcylindrical internal wall surface. In an embodiment, there is provided atunnel reinforcement assembly made of at least two associated sheets forbeing compressed together when inserted within a drilled tunnel andallowed to expand once set within the tunnel against the tunnel'sinternal wall surface. Thereby providing a solidified tunnel with aconstant diameter allowing more efficient harnessing of thermal energy.

FIGS. 13 to 15 show tunnel reinforcement assembly 400, in accordancewith an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, comprising apair of associated inner and outer sheets 402 and 404.

Inner sheet 402 includes a thicker mid-section 406 with a pair or curvedarms 408A and 408B extending therefrom and having spaced apart free ends410A and 4108 defining a space 412 therebetween. Outer sheet 404includes a thicker mid-section 414 with a pair or curved arms 416A and4168 extending therefrom and having spaced apart free ends 418A and 418Bdefining a space 420 therebetween. Arms 410A, 410B, 418A and 418B areflexible and resilient structures. Arms 408A and 408B are pressedinwardly and inserted via opening 420 into outer sheet 404. The arms408A and 4088 open up and press against arms 416A and 416B respectively.The free ends 410A and 410B respectively abut shoulders 422A and 4228formed by the thicker mid-section 414. Similarly, the free ends 418A and418B respectively abut shoulders 424A and 424B formed by the thickermid-section 406. As such, the associated sheets 402 and 404 define atunnel 426.

In order to compress the reinforcement assembly 400 so as to insertedinto a narrower tunnel, the inner sheet 402 is pushed into the outersheet 404. Specifically, the mid section 406 is pushed into the space420. The free ends 418A and 418B disengage the shoulders 424A and 424Band move closer together. Similarly, the free ends 410A and 410Bdisengage the shoulders 422A and 422B and move closer together. When thereinforcement assembly 400 has been inserted at a desired position, thecompression force thereon is released and the resilient sheets 402 and404 move towards their original associated form limited by the internalwalls of the drilled tunnel which the sheets 402 and 404 engagingly actagainst.

It should be noted that all the assemblies herein can be considered asbeing apparatuses even though they may be constructed by two or moreassociated individual sub-apparatuses or devices. Therefore, the termsapparatus and assembly with regards to a systems of exploiting thermalenergy are interchangeable. Furthermore, thermal energy herein includeshydrothermal energy.

It should be noted that the various components and features of thevarious assemblies described above can be combined in a variety of waysso as to provide other non-illustrated embodiments within the scope ofthe invention.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and described hereinabove. The invention iscapable of other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways. Itis also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology used hereinis for the purpose of description and not limitation. Hence, althoughthe present invention has been described hereinabove by way ofembodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from thespirit, scope and nature of the subject invention as defined in theappended claims.

1. An apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of theocean, said apparatus comprising: a thermal energy harnessing assemblycomprising an in-feed tube and an out-feed tube; and a drilling assemblymounted to said thermal energy harnessing assembly, said drillingassembly comprising openings in fluid communication with said in-feedtube and a thermal energy capturing conduit in fluid communication withsaid out-feed tube, wherein when said drilling assembly engages a bottomsurface of the ocean and fluid is introduced into said in-feed tube thefluid is caused to flow towards said drilling assembly and out of saidopenings at such a pressure as to drill into the bottom surface of theocean allowing thermal energy to escape therefrom so as to flow intosaid out-feed tube via said thermal energy capturing conduit.
 2. Anapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drilling assembly comprisesa drilling device, said drilling device comprising said openings.
 3. Anapparatus according to claim 2, wherein said openings are in fluidcommunication with said in-feed tube via longitudinal bores.
 4. Anapparatus according to claim 2, wherein said drilling device comprises atapered outer surface.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein saidopenings are disposed in series along said tapered outer surface.
 6. Anapparatus according to claim 5 wherein said series of openings isdisposed within a groove formed in said tapered outer surface.
 7. Anapparatus according to claim 2, wherein said drilling device comprises aconduit in fluid communication with said in-feed tube for receivingfluid therefrom, said conduit having an opening for providing the fluidtherein to flow along said tapered outer surface.
 8. An apparatusaccording to claim 2, further comprising an actuator assembly forspinning said drilling device during the drilling procedure.
 9. Anapparatus according to claim 8, wherein said actuator comprises aturbine in fluid communication with auxiliary in-feed and out-feedtubes, said auxiliary in-feed tube bringing fluid to said turbine foractuation thereof and said auxiliary out-feed exhausting fluid from saidturbine, said turbine actuating a gear for causing said drilling deviceto spin.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said drillingdevice comprises a bottom end comprising said thermal energy capturingconduit.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said thermalenergy capturing conduit comprises an opening at said drilling devicebottom end leading to a tunnel in fluid communication with said out-feedtube.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said drillingdevice comprises an opening formed within said tunnel and being in fluidcommunication with said in-feed tube for spraying high pressure fluidinto said tunnel.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein atleast portions of said thermal energy harnessing assembly are thermallyinsulated.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluid iswater.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said thermalenergy harnessing assembly comprises a top end and a bottom end forcarrying said drilling assembly thereby providing for the fluid to fromsaid top end to said bottom end and for the thermal energy to rise fromthe bottom end to the top end.
 16. An apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said out-feed tube is in fluid communication with a turbine andgenerator assembly.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising a tunnel reinforcement assembly for being fitted into atunnel drilled into the bottom surface of the ocean by said drillingassembly, said tunnel reinforcement assembly comprising a pair ofassociated resilient and compressible sheets.
 18. A drilling assemblyfor drilling into a surface comprising: a drilling device comprising anouter surface with openings leading to longitudinal bores for receivinghigh pressure fluid and spraying the high pressure fluid out of saidopenings so as to drill into the surface; and an actuator mounted tosaid drilling device for spinning said drilling device about a verticalaxis when drilling into the surface. 19-22. (canceled)
 23. A drillingassembly according to claim 18, wherein said actuator comprises aturbine in fluid communication with auxiliary in-feed and out-feedtubes, said auxiliary in-feed tube bringing fluid to said turbine foractuation thereof and said auxiliary out-feed exhausting fluid from saidturbine, said turbine actuating a gear for causing said drilling deviceto spin.
 24. A drilling assembly according to claim 18, wherein saiddrilling device comprises a bottom end comprising a thermal energycapturing conduit. 25-30. (canceled)